Fireplace screen



Nov. 17, 1931. J. c. YOUNGBLOOD 1,832,630

FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed March 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 17 Jamesfiurfif ATTORNEY 1931- J. c. YOUNGBLOOD ,6

FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed March 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 J'AIVIES COURTNEY YOUNGBLOOD, OF GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA FIREPLACE SCREEN Application filed March 28, 1980. Serial No. 439,795.

This invention relates to screens for open.

fireplaces and has for an object the provision of a screen of simple construction, by means of which the front of a fire place may be entirely enclosed and thus prevent the escape of sparks, and possible injury to persons and property.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a screen which may be permanently secured in position, and which is provided with means to permit ready access to the fire place for any purpose, without removing the screen.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a permanently positioned screen having a hinged cover or closure provided with means for operating the same, the character of the cover operating means being such as to prevent its operation by small children.

Another object of the invention is to providea screen of the above character with a heat plate or similar support which will carry articles (such as food, irons, etc.) to be heated, means being provided for moving the plate into and out of position for use, and for regulating its positions to prevent the articles from being placed too close to the fire.

vision of means carried by the screen for reducing the size of the fire place to regulate the draft and to direct the passage of smoke upward into the flue.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fire place equipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken at one side of the fire place with the screen in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 83 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken substantially on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken through the upper rear portion of the screen and adjacent portion of the fire place. Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corres'ponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates an open fireplace of any suitable size and construction, a portion of the flue of which is indicated at 11.

As is well known, serious accidents frequently occur by sparks flying outward from the fire place and setting fire to floor covers or other articles, as well as the clothing of persons adjacent the fire place. Also, small children are frequently and seriously injured by falling into the fire place, even where the fire place is protected by screen. This is due to the fact that the screen has been inadvertently left in such position that the fire place is unprotected, or that the child itself will push the screen from its proper protected position.

The present invention overcomes the above and other disadvantages by providing a permanently attached screen having means for access to the fire without removingthe screen, Another object of the invention 18 the proas well as providing additional features and advantages. For this purpose, the screen comprises a frame which is preferably made of angle iron with a metallic fabric and which includes a front wall 11 and side walls 12. The screen is of a size to extend around the fire place opening and the rear edges of the side walls '12 are permanently attached to the fire place adjacent the opening by suitable means indicated at 13.

The rear portions of the side walls 12 are connected at their upper ends by means of a bar 14 and hingedly secured to this bar as shown at 15 is a top or cover 16. This top 1.6 is also formed of an angle iron frame having a metallic fabric cover.

In addition, the front wall 11 of the screen is provided with an opening 1? and this opening is normally closed by a door 18 which is hingedly mounted as shown at 19. The hinged top 16 provides means for ready access to the fire placeto replenish the supply of fuel, and for other purposes, while the door 18 provides access to the bottom of the fire place for the removal of ashes and other purposes.

Positioned at the rear top portion of the screen is a plate 20. This plate has its opposite ends mounted for sliding movement in guides carried by the frame and is provided. with a finger piece 21. By adjusting this plate vertically, which is held frictionally in adjusted position, the size of the fire place opening may be reduced to increase draft, while the position of the plate at the top of the fire place opening will direct smoke upward into the flue l1 and thus prevent its passage outward into a room.

lelounted for rocking movement in one of the side walls 12 of the screen is a shaft The inner end of this shaft has secured there on the inner end of an arm 33, and the outer end of this arm has attached thereto one end of rod 2; whose opposite end is attached to the top 16 as indicated at lhe arm and rod 24 are positioned within the screen. The arm 23 has secured thereto one end of a spring 26, the opposite end of which is secured to the screen frame as shown at 27. The tension of the spring 26 is to yieldingly resist opening movementof the top 16.

Fastened upon the shaft 22 upon the outside of the screen is an operating lever 28. This lever is provided with a spring latch 29 which is adapted to en within notches 30 and 31 provided in a segment carried hy the fraine. hen the latch 29 is engaged within the notch 30, the top 16 will be held in closed position and cannot be opened by small children due to the h t of the outer end of the lever 28 and the lever 33 for releasing the latch 29. ,Vhen the latch 29 is engaged within the notch 31, the top 16 will be held in raised position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. Access to the fire place may thus be conveniently had. Mounted in bearings 34 and 35, carried by one side wall 12 of the screen is a rod 36. This rod is capable of both rotary and vertical movement and has rigid with its lower end a plate 37. This plate is designed to support articles to be heated by the fire within the fire place and may contain articles of food, or irons 38 or other articles. The upper end of the rod 36 is provided with an operating handle 39, while extending from this end of the rod is a pin 40. llotches 4 11 and 42 are provided in the upper hearing 35, and when the pin l0 is arranged within the notch ll, the plate 37 will be arranged as shown in Figure l of the drawings. By slightly raising the rod and rotating the same so that the pin e0 will occupy the notches 42, the plate will be moved to the front of the fire place in close proximity to the fire so that the articles thereon will receive the effect of the heat. The notches 42, in addition to holding the plate against the accidental swinging movement, acts to limit inward movement of the plate toward the fire so that the articles thereon will not be subjected to smoke and soot.

This invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a fire place screen, a frame adapted to be positioned around the opening of a fire place. means to fixedly secure the frame, a metallic fabric cover for the frame defining side and. front walls, a cover hinged to the top of the frame, operating mechanism to move the cover hingedly, a vertically disposed rod mounted for rotary movement within the screen, a horizontally disposed heat plate having one end secured to the lowor end 0' 1e rod, and a handle at the upper end of the rod to move the plate toward and away from the fire place.

2. I'n a fire place screen, a frame adapted go be POSltiOZHKl around the opening of a fire a -Lace, means to fixedly secure the frame a metallic fabric cover for the frame defining e an d front walls, cover hinged to the top 0.: the frame, o 'ierating mechanism to move the cover hin! dly', a vertically disposed rod mounted for rotary movement within the screen, a horizontally disposed. heat plate having one end secured to the lower end of the rod, and a handle at the upper end of the rod to move the plate toward and away from the fire place, and means to hold. the plate against accidental movement.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JAMES COURTNEY YOUNGBLOOD. 

